After more than two decades of waiting, Timor-Leste is finally set to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as its 11th full member. The official admission will take place during the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, held from October 26 to 28, 2025, a milestone not just for the small island nation, but for the entire region.
The announcement came from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who currently serves as ASEAN Chair. Speaking at an event in Perak, he confirmed that after years of preparation and diplomacy, “Timor-Leste will officially become a permanent member of ASEAN.”
This marks the culmination of a journey that began in 2011, when Timor-Leste submitted its formal application to join ASEAN, almost a decade after gaining independence from Indonesia in 2002. Now, 14 years later, the world’s youngest Southeast Asian nation is finally stepping into the regional stage it has long aspired to join.
The Longest Journey to the ASEAN Table
No country in ASEAN’s history has taken longer to gain membership. The delay was not due to politics alone, but also to ASEAN’s evolving nature.
Since the ASEAN Charter was adopted in 2008, the bloc has transformed into a rules-based organization, meaning new members must meet clear benchmarks across three pillars: political-security, economic, and socio-cultural readiness.
Several member states had expressed reservations over Timor-Leste’s readiness, pointing to its modest economy, limited infrastructure, and relatively small administrative capacity.
At the same time, Timor-Leste’s unique identity stood out. It is the only ASEAN nation where Portuguese is an official language, alongside Tetum, with Bahasa Indonesia used as a working language.
Yet, despite the differences, ASEAN’s guiding principle of unity in diversity ultimately prevailed. Over the past two years, Dili has made significant progress in aligning itself with 66 ASEAN economic agreements and nearly all of the political and socio-cultural frameworks.
Malaysia’s Role and the Final Consensus
Malaysia, as ASEAN’s rotating chair in 2025, played a crucial role in bringing the process to its conclusion. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reportedly worked closely with other leaders, notably Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, to secure consensus among all member states.
Behind the scenes, this wasn’t an easy feat. Myanmar’s junta had previously threatened to block Timor-Leste’s admission, accusing Dili of “interfering in internal affairs” after it supported Myanmar’s opposition movement in exile.
However, during recent diplomatic talks, both countries agreed to normalize relations and reaffirm ASEAN’s long-standing principle of non-interference.
Anwar’s successful mediation reflects Malaysia’s growing diplomatic influence in the region. It also underscores ASEAN’s ability to find common ground even when differences arise among its members, a hallmark of the bloc’s survival since its founding in 1967.
From Dili to the ASEAN Stage
For Timor-Leste, joining ASEAN is more than just a political achievement, it is a return to its regional family. Since gaining independence in 2002, its leaders have repeatedly expressed the goal of joining ASEAN as part of the country’s foreign policy identity.
President José Ramos-Horta, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, once humorously remarked that “joining ASEAN was harder than going to heaven.”
That long-held dream is now a reality. Dili’s inclusion marks not only the completion of ASEAN’s geographic circle, encompassing all of mainland and maritime Southeast Asia, but also the arrival of a new democratic voice in the region.
Timor-Leste is often praised for its strong press freedom, transparent elections, and commitment to democratic values. In a region where political systems vary widely, its presence offers a fresh perspective and an example of resilience.
Strengthening ASEAN’s Diversity and Global Reach
Timor-Leste’s membership carries deeper significance beyond numbers. As a member of both the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) and the Pacific Islands Forum, it brings ASEAN closer to Lusophone and Pacific communities, expanding the bloc’s diplomatic reach.
It also adds a moral dimension to ASEAN’s collective image. While some view the bloc as slow-moving or consensus-bound, the inclusion of a small but vibrant democracy challenges that perception.
It reminds the world that ASEAN’s strength lies in its ability to accommodate nations of vastly different histories, economies, and systems, while maintaining a shared commitment to stability and cooperation.
Looking Ahead
As the 47th ASEAN Summit approaches, the mood is one of optimism. Timor-Leste’s accession will be celebrated as both a diplomatic and symbolic success, proof that the ASEAN dream of unity remains alive in a world increasingly defined by division.
For Timor-Leste, the next chapter begins with responsibility: to adapt, contribute, and grow within the ASEAN framework. For ASEAN, it is a reminder of its original spirit, not merely as an economic alliance, but as a community that believes in inclusion, dialogue, and shared progress.
When Dili takes its seat at the ASEAN table on October 26, 2025, it won’t just mark the end of a 14-year journey, it will represent the beginning of a new Southeast Asia: one more complete, more diverse, and more connected than ever before.
